West Barns

Settlement in East Lothian

Scotland

West Barns

Winterfield GC Golf course in Dunbar. View of the Bass Rock and Fife. — Winterfield GC Credit: Richard Webb

West Barns is a small village located in the county of East Lothian, in the southeast of Scotland. Situated approximately 2 miles west of Dunbar, it is nestled between the North Sea coastline and the rolling hills of the East Lothian countryside.

The village is primarily residential, with a population of around 700 people according to the latest census. It features a mix of traditional stone-built cottages, more modern housing developments, and a few local amenities. There is a small convenience store, a post office, and a village hall that serves as a community gathering place.

West Barns benefits from its proximity to the coast, with stunning sandy beaches just a short walk away. The area is known for its picturesque dunes and is a popular spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The John Muir Country Park is also nearby, offering further opportunities for walking, cycling, and wildlife spotting.

The village has a strong sense of community, with various social groups and clubs catering to different interests. There is a local football team, a bowling club, and a community garden where residents can come together to tend to the plants and enjoy the outdoors.

Although relatively small, West Barns is well-connected. It is conveniently located near the A1 road, providing easy access to nearby towns such as Dunbar and Haddington, as well as the city of Edinburgh, which is approximately 30 miles away.

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West Barns Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.994841/-2.5510387 or Grid Reference NT6578. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Winterfield GC

Golf course in Dunbar. View of the Bass Rock and Fife.

Richard Webb

Belhaven Brewery

Great beer since 1719

John Darcy

Belhaven Bay

I don't see the point of this bridge but it has been there for years.

John Darcy

Lobster pots, Belhaven Bay

Pots on the edge of the beach. A northerly wind meant some big waves.

Richard Webb

Dune slacks, John Muir Country Park.

This square was once all tidal according to the old maps. Now a new line of dunes has formed, leaving the old beach as a flat low lying area of flooded grassland and salt marsh. Looking north across this new land to the current frontline dunes. Sandy shorelines can change in an instant.

Richard Webb

The old shoreline, Belhaven Bay

This was once the highwater mark, but changes in the dunes meant new land forming offshore turning a once tidal beach into wetland. Looking east towards Dunbar.

Richard Webb

New dunes, West Barns Links

The Tyne estuary is a dynamic shoreline. Different age maps show different shorelines, this was sea on the old 1" maps. The dunes have formed on a tidal beach, turning what was once flooded by the sea into "dry" land. It is actually a salt marsh here near the shoreline.

Richard Webb

Hedderwick Hill Plantation.

Trees planted on West Barns Links. There are low sand dunes, now far inland due to natural reclamation here, but no hills. Possibly the flattest area used for orienteering in Scotland.

Richard Webb

Beltonford

Charolais waiting for some silage by the link road connecting the old and new A1. Bridge over the Biel Water, looking SE.

Richard Webb

Storm water trap, A1

The A1 has just been upgraded to a dual carriageway here. The pool is to catch excessive run-off from the road and lessen the chances of flooding. View East to newly opened section.

Richard Webb

Highland cow

Taken at East Links Family Farm Park at Hedderwick, near Dunbar. Farm buildings in background.

Lisa Jarvis

Deep furrows at Eweford, near Dunbar

Recently a Neolithic mortuary structure was excavated at Eweford. Subsequently, the site was also used for burials during the Bronze Age.

Lisa Jarvis

Horsey, horsey

South Bolton Farm, near Dunbar, East Lothian.

Lisa Jarvis

Doocot at Bowerhouse, near Dunbar, East Lothian

This doocot is of the rectangular lectern type that superseded the beehive design NT5977 : Phantassie 'Doocot' and NT5680 : Early morning at Waughton doocot in the late 16th century. As typical of this type, the doocot has a sloping roof with stepped gables to provide perches for the pigeons. The roofs usually face south to give the birds a sunny surface to rest on, while sheltering them from northerly winds. This one appears to be two-storey, the ground floor would have been used for other purposes and the pigeon quarters on the upper floor.

Lisa Jarvis

Mist by Miles

West Barns plains near East Links Family Park and John Muir Country Park. Looking over Belhaven Bay toward the clubhouse of Winterfield Golf Club near St Margaret's.

Simon Johnston

Belhaven Brewery

The entrance to one of the great Scottish breweries. Belhaven was demerged from a larger group back in early 1990's, as I remember under the brand-master hand of Raymond Miguel, and which went on to become City Centre Restaurants plc (now called The Restaurant Group) which used to include well known names such as Est Est Est, Garfunkels, The Filling Station, Cafe Uno, Wok Wok, Chiquitos, Frankie and Benny's even the little chrome caravan niche called "OK Diner". It would seem that some of these are no longer part of their portfolio. (Link

Nevertheless it would seem that 15ish years down the line that both companies are doing very well. Over the years I had a little flutter in the equity of both businesses. More on the history of Belhaven Brewery here: (and what colourful history) Link

Simon Johnston

Peacock

East Links Family Park is an ever expanding farm park where children can feed the animals and birds. These days many farmers are needing to diversify to make a living.

Lisa Jarvis

Lamb

East Links Family Park is an ever expanding farm park where children can feed the animals and birds. These days many farmers are needing to diversify to make a living.

Lisa Jarvis

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West Barns is located at Grid Ref: NT6578 (Lat: 55.994841, Lng: -2.5510387)

Unitary Authority: East Lothian

Police Authority: The Lothians and Scottish Borders